Strategic Export Controls: Report

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When their response to the Defence, Foreign Affairs, International Development and Trade and Industry Committees' Report (HC 225) on the 1997 and 1998 Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls will be published.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government published the response to the Committees' Report (HC 225) on Friday 14 July. It was published as a Command Paper at 12 pm and copies are available in the Vote Office and in the Printed Paper Office in the House of Lords.

Sierra Leone: Arms Supply

Lord Burnham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will reconcile the figures for arms exports to Sierra Leone given in the Written Answer by Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale to Lord Roberts of Conwy (WA 91) with those given in the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean to Lord Hoyle (WA 99), both on 29 June.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Written Answer given by Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale gave details of the equipment provided to the Sierra Leone army; and said the provision of further equipment was being considered. The Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean gave details of this further equipment.
	The coincidence of the two Written Answers was because of internal delays in processing the Answer given by Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale.

Sierra Leone: Arms Supply

Lord Burnham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they reconcile the Written Answer by Baroness Ramsey of Cartvale (WA 91) on the shipment of arms supplies to Sierra Leone stating that "the details were passed to the United Nations Sanctions Committee" with the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (WA 99) on the same subject which stated that "the shipment will be notified to the United Nations Sanctions Committee", both on 29 June.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1171 (1998), we notified the United Nations Sanctions Committee at the time of the export of the equipment listed in the Written Answer by Baroness Ramsey of Cartvale.
	The export from the UK of the equipment described in the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean has now been notified to the United Nations Sanctions Committee, following formal agreement for the shipment from the ECOWAS Secretariat.

Chemical Weapons Convention: Compliance

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many states owning chemical weapons have complied with their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (1993); how many have not; and whether they think that Russia will be able to meet its next deadline of 29 April 2002; with or without assistance.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: All four declared possessor states are currently compliant with their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Russia faces a challenging target for the next destruction deadline in April 2002. It would be premature at the present time to speculate on its prospects of meeting it.

Verulamium: Ploughing

Lord McNally: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that the archaeological remains of the Roman City of Verulamium at St Albans are not damaged by ploughing and other activity likely to cause permanent harm to this site of national importance.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The site is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Following a programme of archaeological evaluation and geophysical survey funded by English Heritage, discussions about the long-term management are now taking place between English Heritage and the site's owners. In the meantime, the depth of ploughing will be limited to ensure that the archaeological deposits are safeguarded.

EU Culture and Audiovisual Ministers' Meeting, 20-21 July

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Ministers will represent the United Kingdom at the meeting of European Union Culture Ministers in Lille, 20 to 21 July; and what issues are on the agenda for discussion.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Mr Alan Howarth, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will represent the United Kingdom at the the informal meeting of European Culture and Audiovisual Ministers in Lille. Ministers will discuss negotiations on the Media Plus programme; the future of public service television in the European Union; and the economy of the book industry.

Public Expenditure

Lord Jenkins of Putney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list public expenditure by government departments, ranking those departments from the largest to the smallest in terms of expenditure.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: This information is contained in Prudent for a purpose: building opportunity and security for all (Cm 4807), which is being published today.

Devolved Administrations: Funding

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the funding rules applied by the 2000 Spending Review to the devolved administrations

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Copies of the updated Statement of Funding Policy, which sets out the funding arrangements for the devolved administrations, have today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

Military Wrecks

Lord Onslow of Woking: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who is responsible for listing the wrecks of military vessels in United Kingdom waters, and what consideration has been given to establishing a centrally held list of all such wrecks.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I will write to the noble Lord and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Royal Military Tattoo

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the military occupation, in connection with the Royal Tattoo, of the eastern part of St James' Park was necessary or justified; whether civilian interests (other than the Royal Park) were consulted in advance; and whether the Royal Parks will be fully compensated for any damage done.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The use of parts of St James's Park in connection with the Royal Military Tattoo 2000 (RMT 2000) has been arranged with the full permission of the Royal Parks, granted at ministerial level. The park provides space to house support facilities required for the event which are not available on Horse Guards Parade. The RMT 2000 project team work closely with Royal Parks, Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police to ensure that health and safety regulations are adhered to, and that inconvenience to the public is kept to a minimum. The Royal Parks have granted the Ministry of Defence (MoD) permission to use Horse Guards Parade and allotted areas of St James's Park in return for a licence fee. In addition, MoD is responsible for fair and reasonable reinstatement costs in respect of any damage which can be attributed to RMT 2000's use of those areas.

Director of Public Prosecutions:Annual Report

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to publish his annual report.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: I can confirm that I have today placed a copy of the annual report in the Library of the House.

Miss Roisin McAliskey

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to proceed with any prosecution against Roisin McAliskey.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Further to the statement of the Home Secretary on 10 March 1998 (Official Report, 10 March 1998, col. 133) that he would not order the extradition of Roisin McAliskey to Germany, the Crown Prosecution Service, in accordance with this country's obligations under Article 7 of the European Covention on the Suppression of Terrorism, has considered whether to prosecute Roisin McAliskey in this country for the offences allegedly committed in Germany in relation to the Osnabruck bombing of 28 June 1996.
	The test applied by the Crown Prosecution Service is the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors that applies to all prosecutions in England and Wales--namely, that a prosecution will only be commenced or proceeded with if there is sufficient evidence to afford a realistic prospect of conviction and that prosecution is in the public interest.
	The Crown Prosecution Service, having taken the advice of Senior Treasury Counsel, has concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of convicting Miss McAliskey for any offence arising out of the Osnabruck bombing. It has reached that conclusion having taken into account the available evidence and the likely result of any argument that may be put forward by Miss McAliskey that to prosecute her now would be an abuse of process.
	The Law Officers have been consulted and we agree with the conclusion reached by the Crown Prosecution Service.
	It is not usual for the Law Officers to make announcements concerning consideration of individual cases. In this instance, the Home Secretary in a written reply (Official Report, 20 March 1998, col. 742) said that this matter would be considered for prosecution in the United Kingdom. It is right that the House should be informed of the outcome of those considerations.

Bills: Suspension of Minimum Intervals between Stages

Lord Marlesford: asked the Leader of the House:
	On which occasions during the last 20 years the recommended minimum intervals between stages of Bills in the House have not been observed.

Baroness Jay of Paddington: The information requested has been placed in the Library for Sessions 1991-92 to the present. The information requested is not available for any years before 1991-92. However, I have placed in the Library lists of Bills on which Standing Orders were suspended between 1980 and 1991 in order to allow more than one stage of a Bill to be taken in a day.

Organic Farming and Rural Economy Programmes: Administrative Costs

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the costs of the Regional Service Centre administration of the Organic Farming and Rural Economy programmes in the current and next financial years.

Baroness Hayman: The costs of Regional Service Centre administration of the Organic Farming and Rural Economy programmes are estimated to be:
	
		
			  2000-01 2001-02 
			  (£000) (£000) 
			 Organic Farming (RSC Administration) CP: 040 92 87 
			 Rural Economy (RSC Administration) CP: 050 765 732 
		
	
	Table 10.5 and Annex 5 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's Departmental Report 2000 included scheme costs against these programmes in error. A corrigendum to the report will be issued shortly.

Agricultural Wages Board: Annual Report

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are their future plans for the Agricultural Wages Board; and when they expect the 1999 report of the board to be published.

Baroness Hayman: The Agricultural Wages Board is subject to the Government's normal quinquennial review procedures. A review is currently under way. We have consulted widely. We have also commissioned independent research. We are currently considering the results and will make an announcement as soon as possible.
	The annual report of the Agricultural Wages Board forms part of the Report on Wages in Agriculture. This publication includes reports on the Agricultural Wages Committees and the Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees as well as performance standards achieved by the Agricultural Wages Inspectors for the period 1 April to 31 March. The 1998 report was published on 29 October 1999. We hope to publish the 1999 report, which contains data up to the end of March 2000 to a similar timetable.

IACS: Complaints to Ombudsman

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cases of complaint by farmers against the administration of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) have been referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration during each of the last five years.

Baroness Hayman: The PCA's office does not keep records in a form which enables us to respond to the question asked. Not all of the complaints made to the PCA proceed to a full investigation. However, records held by MAFF show that in respect of the schemes covered by the Integrated Administration and Control System there were a number of complaints that were fully investigated by the PCA during the period in question. The split by year is as follows:
	1995 3 complaints
	1996 4 complaints
	1997 2 complaints
	1998 1 complaint
	1999 6 complaints

Registered Homes Act 1984 and Protection of Children Act 1999: Tribunals

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which government agency or department is responsible for the selection and appointment of specialist members of tribunals established under the Registered Homes Act 1984 and the Protection of Children Act 1999; what are the criteria for such appointments; and whether the qualifications and experience of appointees are available for inspection by the public.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Under the Registered Homes Act, the Lord President of the Council appoints the panel of expert members who can act as members on a Registered Homes Tribunal. The Act requires that panel members must have experience in social work, medicine, nursing or midwifery or such experience as the Lord President of the Council considers suitable. The Privy Council makes appointments to individual tribunal hearings on the basis of members' relevant experience in the type case which is the subject of the appeal.
	For tribunals established under the Protection of Children Act, lay members will be appointed by the Lord Chancellor. The Act provides for lay members to be appointed after consultation with the Secretary of State for Health and no person may be appointed unless he or she satisfies such requirements as may be prescribed. The panel of lay members will include people with appropriate experience in social services, the National Health Service and education services.
	The Care Standards Bill will mean a change to the current tribunal arrangements for registered homes. The Bill repeals the Registered Homes Act, under which the Registered Homes Tribunal is established, and provides for appeals brought in respect of regulated care services to fall to the tribunal established under the Protection of Children Act. The organisation and constitution of the Protection of Children Act tribunal will be expanded to accommodate all appeal cases resulting from the new regulatory arrangements.
	We intend that appointments to the panels of chairmen and expert members under the new tribunal arrangements will be made by the Lord Chancellor. Such appointments will be prescribed and will include people with appropriate expertise within all the care services to be regulated.
	Information about the qualifications and experience of expert members appointed to the Registered Homes Tribunal is publicly available from the Privy Council on request. No lay appointments have yet been made to the tribunal established under the Protection of Children Act. The Lord Chancellor's Department has no plans to publish information about lay members.

NHS Estates Executive Agency: Annual Report

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the Annual Report and Accounts 1999-2000 for the National Health Service Estates Executive Agency.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have received the report and copies have today been laid in accordance with the requirements of Section 5 of the Exchequer and Audits Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

Drug-related Psychosis

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cases of drug-related psychosis were diagnosed within the National Health Service in each year from 1990 to 1999 inclusive.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information requested is given in the list.
	
		Estimated finished consultant episodes with a primary diagnosis of psychotic disorder due to psychoactive substance use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) 1989-90 to 1998-1999 -- England
		
			 Year  
			 1989-90 860 
			 1990-01 1,200 
			 1991-92 1,690 
			 1992-93 1,660 
			 1993-94 2,270 
			 1994-95 2,530 
			 1995-96 1,840 
			 1996-97 1,850 
			 1997-98 2,250 
			 1998-99 2,030 (HES) 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Figures for 1998-99 are provisional as no adjustments have yet been made for shortfalls in data.
	From 1995-96 ICD-10 codes have been used relating to psychotic disorder, (F11.5, F12.5, F13.5, F14.5, F15.5, F16.5, F18.5 and F19.5).
	Prior to 1995-96, near equivalent ICD-9 codes have been used to map with ICD-10 codes
	The equivalent ICD-9 codes relate to paranoid and/or hallucinatory states induced by drugs.
	Pathological drug intoxication other and unspecified (292.1, 292.2, 292.8 and 292.9) as advised by the NHS Information Authority on the International Classification of Codes.
	.

Drug-related Psychosis

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many times Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Mental Health Act 1983 have been invoked in cases involving drug-related psychosis in each year from 1990 to 1999 inclusive.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Data on the use of Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in relation to cases of drug-related psychosis are not collected centrally. The Department of Health collects and publishes information relating to patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 on:
	admissions to hospital under the Act by section of the Act, sex, and category of disorder as defined and required under the Act. Psychiatric diagnoses are not collected;
	changes in patients' legal status while in hospital;
	patients in hospital at the end of the year by sex and category of disorder as defined and required by the Act.

Drug-related Psychosis

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider the resources and facilities available to the National Health Service to treat drug-related psychosis are adequate.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Currently provision of mental services varies widely across the country. The National Service Framework for Mental Health is aimed at improving both the quantity and quality of mental health services. This is being supported by substantial new investment to enable the development of an appropriate range of interventions and services which will meet the needs of patients.

Hospital Construction Costs

Lord Jacobs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the approximate total cost of constructing a 1,000-bed fully equipped hospital, including some provision for land.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Each hospital development is unique, reflecting local requirements and circumstances. We are therefore unable to give an approximate cost. A 1,000 bed hospital would almost certainly be procured through the Private Finance Initiative route. The capital value would be dependent on many factors such as location, with the land and construction costs varying considerably, with inner London prices at over 25 per cent, higher than in many other parts of the country. Other factors include the geography and nature of the site chosen, and whether it is new build on an existing hospital site a greenfield site or a major refurbishment project.

Hospital Running Costs

Lord Jacobs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the approximate cost of running a 1,000-bed hospital, excluding the cost of employing nurses, doctors and specialists.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: All hospitals are unique, reflecting local service requirements and circumstances. We are therefore unable to give a meaningful approximate cost for running a 1,000 bed hospital. Costs are dependent on many factors, such as location, with the premises and transport costs in particular varying considerably. Costs will also vary to reflect the type of services being delivered by the hospital, with some specialities making a much greater demand on running costs and maintenance than others.

Medical Staff and Hospital Beds: Additional Requirements

Lord Jacobs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In order to satisfy their requirements for an improved performance by the National Health Service, what is their estimate of the number of additional (a) nurses; (b) doctors; (c) specialists; and (d) hospital beds needed.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Extra money made available from the Comprehensive Spending Review will enable the National Health Service to take on up to 7,000 more doctors and 15,000 more nurses by March 2002 to improve frontline care. We intend to ensure there are the right number of the right sort of beds in the right places in order to meet patient needs. As a result we set up the National Beds Inquiry, which was published for consultation earlier this year.
	The requirements for nurses, hospital and family doctors and hospital beds in the NHS will be reviewed as part of the National Plan for Health, which is due to be published shortly.

Advisory Panel on Works of Art

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	(a) who are the members of the Advisory Panel on Works of Art;
	(b) how often the panel meets; and
	(c) when the panel last met.[H
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Boston of Faversham: (a) The members of the Advisory Panel on Works of Art are: Lord Freyberg Lord Gavron Baroness Hilton of Eggardon (Chairman) Lord Jacobs Lord Lloyd-Webber Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall Lord Mancroft Lord Palmer Baroness Rawlings Lady Saltoun of Abernethy together with the Clerk of the Parliaments.
	(b) The Panel usually meets around five times per year.
	(c) It last met on 17 July.

New Deal Jobs

Lord Shore of Stepney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the number of new jobs created by the New Deal in 1998 and 1999; and what is their estimate for the year 2000.

Baroness Blackstone: The precise information asked for is not available.
	The New Deal is not a job creation programme. It aims to help unemployed people to find jobs as quickly as possible, and to stay in work by improving their skills, experience and self confidence in the competition for jobs. The New Deal will however lead to some extra jobs being created by firms because of its positive impact on the numbers, skills and other qualities of employable people who are looking for work.

Asylum Seeker Children: School Places

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What information they hold on the proportion of asylum seekers' children who have been found school places.

Baroness Blackstone: We do not keep information centrally on numbers of asylum seeker children who have found school places. However the Refugee Council recently estimated that 63,000 of the 65,000 children of asylum seekers in this country have found school places. This is a tribute to schools and LEAs who work so hard to find places for these children.
	We want schools and LEAs to make sure all children of asylum seekers get school places. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State announced that an extra £1.5 million would be available to secure places for all children of asylum seekers dispersed under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Asylum Seeker Children: School Uniforms

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who is responsible for finding money for the purchase of school uniforms for asylum seekers' children.

Baroness Blackstone: Local education authorities have a discretionary power to provide school uniform or clothing, or to assist with the cost of providing it, for pupils in schools they maintain.

Examination Results: Publication

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether analyses of schools' examination results produced by the National Consortium of Examination Results (NCER) are currently available to members of the public under the code of practice or other arrangements; and whether they will be available under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Bill from (a) the NCER, or (b) local education authorities; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Blackstone: The National Consortium of Examination Results (NCER) is an informal association of local education authorities in England, the purpose of which is to make arrangements on their behalf for the provision of information on pupils' examination and National Curriculum assessment results and associated services. The consortium does not itself hold such data and does not, therefore, make information available to members of the public.
	Since it has no separate legal status, the NCER would not be considered a public authority under the terms of the Freedom of Information Bill currently before Parliament. As public authorities, the Bill's provisions for the statutory rights of access to information will apply to local education authorities when enacted.

Marine Anti-fouling Paint

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to encourage the International Maritime Organisation to introduce a total prohibition on the use of tributylin (TBT) anti-fouling paint on commercial vessels; and when they expect such a ban to come into effect.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Her Majesty's Government supported the International Maritime Organisation's Assembly Resolution A.895(21), which states that a legally binding instrument should be developed to ensure a global prohibition of the application of organotin compounds acting as biocides in anti-fouling systems on ships by 1 January 2003 and a complete prohibition of the presence of such compounds on ships by 1 January 2008. The aim is for the draft international convention to be adopted at a diplomatic conference in October 2001.

Immigration Advisers: Regulation

Lord Rea: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress is being made by the Immigration Services Commissioner in establishing the scheme of regulation for immigration advisers and service providers.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: As my honourable friend the Minister of State for the Home Office, Mrs Roche, indicated in another place on 22 May, Official Report, col. 370W, the Immigration Services Commissioner took up post on that date. The commissioner is in the process of consulting widely within the advice sector in order to formulate the rules and standards which will govern the regulatory scheme. The commissioner expects to have published the documents required by Part V of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and to be ready to consider exemptions and applications for registration from 30 October 2000. We expect the full regulatory scheme to come into force in April 2001.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the written answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 26 June (WA 61-63) on the type and make of cars used by the Home Office, what types, makes and number of cars are supplied to the Home Office by the Government Car Service for the use of Ministers and senior officials.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The information requested is not held by the Home Office. I refer my noble friend to the Answer given to him by my noble friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, on 6 July (Official Report, WA 148).

Animal Procedures Committee: Annual Report

Lord Clinton-Davis: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the latest annual report of the Animal Procedures Committee.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office, Mr O'Brien, has today placed a copy of the committee's annual report for 1999 in the Library. He welcomes the progress the committee has made on its extensive programme of work.

Firearms Act 1968 Contravention, Lincolnshire Police HQ

The Earl of Shrewsbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	By what authority the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire authorised civilian personnel from the Environment Agency to fire weapons prohibited under Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 at Police Headquarters some time prior to 14 June.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: I understand from the Lincolnshire Police that there used to be an approved rifle and pistol club located at force headquarters. Certain visitors who were given tours of the headquarters facilities were also shown the firing range and allowed to fire weapons used by the force as guests of the club.
	The implications of recent changes to firearms legislation and the closure of the club were not recognised by the force in relation to visitors to the force headquarters. As soon as the implications of the changes were realised, the firing of weapons under these circumstances was stopped immediately.
	The Chief Constable accepts that errors have been made but wishes to stress that visitors' backgrounds were checked in advance and they were under the strictest supervision at all times.
	I understand that a report has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Breach of Community Orders: Prison Sentence Numbers

Lord Windlesham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their revised estimate of the number of additional persons likely to be imprisoned annually if the provisions contained in Clause 48 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill are enacted unamended, taking into account the findings of the research on the effects of deterrence commissioned by the Home Office from the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge University.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We have no plans to revise our estimates on the basis of this research.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Lord Windlesham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many anti-social behaviour orders have been made by the courts since the authorising legislation came into force.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We understand that over 90 orders have been made in England and Wales since the relevant provisions came into force in April last year.

Prisoner Discharge Grants

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prisoners received discharge grant in each of the last three years at the standard and higher rates; and what was the total amount paid in each of those years.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Total recorded spend on discharge grants in those years was £3,747,714 (1997-98), £4,147,070 (1998-99) and £4,044,256 (1999-2000).
	We do not have complete figures on the numbers and level of grant paid for those years, but the figures we do have for 1999-2000 show that, of 77,574 grants paid, 14,010 were paid at the higher level with the balance being paid at the standard level.

Prisoner Discharge Grants

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that ths system of discharge grants payable to prisoners provides ex-prisoners with sufficient means of support until benefit becomes payable; whether they will replace grants by an interest-free loan equivalent to two weeks' benefit repayable from benefit over several weeks; and whether they accept that this would reduce the temptation to commit further offences.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We recognise that there are a number of issues surrounding the adequacy of support to prisoners on their release from custody and the barriers that may hinder their successful reintegration to society. The Prison Service and other departments are looking at the level and method of payment of discharge grants among other matters as ways of addressing these questions.

Foreign Migrant Workers: Ill Treatment

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that ill treatment of foreign migrant workers should be dealt with as a manifestation of racism by the United Nations World Conference against Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in September 2001; and, if so, what analysis of this phenomenon they will assist or promote.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: It would be for the Preparatory Committee, in which all member states of the United Nations, observer international organisations and numerous non-governmental organisations are participating, to decide whether this is an issue which they would wish the World Conference to address, in which case the United Kingdom, in association with other member states of the Western European and Other Grouping, would of course undertake any subsequent analysis which the Preparatory Committee requested it to conduct.

Crime Reduction Measures: Spending Impact

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimate they have made (in the Comprehensive Spending Review) of the amount and type of crime which could be prevented by each additional £1 million invested in:
	(a) building and running more prisons;
	(b) recruiting more police officers;
	(c) installing closed circuit televisions;
	(d) drug treatment programmes; or
	(e) programmes of social and educational support for young people at risk, especially those leaving care or excluded from school.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: In the course of the Spending Review, the Government have had close regard to the relative costs and effectiveness of a range of measures for reducing or preventing crime. A wide range of solutions is needed satisfactorily to tackle crime reduction, and in practice many of these are interdependent. For example, re-offending is reduced not solely as a result of imprisonment but also requires that offenders are apprehended through effective policing and that prisoners complete programmes designed to prevent re-offending.
	Different measures also have varying impacts over time and between locations, and according to the group of offenders targeted. The Government's evidence-led approach to crime reduction is based on establishing a full understanding of these inter-linkages and not on a simple correlation between spending and crime for individual measures in isolation.
	With these qualifications, our central estimates on the available evidence suggest that the impact of spending on individual measures in isolation are as follows:
	£1 million invested in building and running more prisons would result in approximately 180 recorded offences being prevented annually; and
	£1 million invested in running drug treatment programmes within prison would result in approximately 500 recorded offences being prevented annually.
	However, these estimates are uncertain and subject to error margins. Research is currently being undertaken by the Home Office to improve them and to expand their coverage as new evidence becomes available.
	The impact of recruiting more police officers, installing closed circuit television systems, and early interventions with children at risk, is highly dependent upon the circumstances and on the mix of approaches and tactics chosen. They cannot therefore be meaningfully reduced to a single impact per-spend measure.

Trafficking in Women

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When (a) Home and Interior Ministers and (b) senior police officers within the European Union last discussed the trafficking of women for prostitution; and whether fully co-ordinated action will be taken, in conjunction with the countries of eastern Europe, against this growing abuse.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We have been engaged for some time in negotiating a Protocol to the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime on "Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children". The United Kingdom contributes to this discussion both in its own right and as a member state of the European Union. My honourable friend the Minister of State for the Home Office, Mrs Roche, spoke to a conference of senior police officers on this subject on 20 June and at a seminar on 6 July. We took a full part in drafting the European Union Action Plan on Trafficking and we have actively supported the action plan since its implementation in 1998. The action plan promotes such activities as information campaigns on training in Poland and the Ukraine.

Prisoners: In-cell Television

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What data are available to compare the average number of hours per day for which convicted prisoners are unlocked from their cells (a) before the introduction of in-cell television in prisons; and (b) after its introduction.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The average number of hours per day for which convicted prisoners are unlocked from their cells is as follows:
	Before the introduction of in-cell TV
	April/Oct 1998 11.41 hours.
	After the introduction of in-cell TV
	Oct 1998/Mar 1999 11.96 hours
	1999-2000 10.89 hours.

Prisoners: In-cell Television

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What data are available to compare the average number of educational courses per year applied for by each prisoner (a) before the introduction of in-cell television in prisons; and (b) after its introduction.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: This information is not held centrally.

Prisoners: In-cell Television

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What research has been, or is being, conducted into the effects of the introduction of in-cell television in prisons.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: In-cell television was introduced on a gradual and self-financing basis in October 1998.
	Since its introduction, no specific research into its effects has been undertaken by the Prison Service, and none is planned at this time. However, experience of in-cell television in recent years suggests considerable benefits. As an earned privilege, it can be a powerful incentive to good behaviour and regime participation, and can help with order and control, reducing tension on the landings. It helps prisoners keep in touch with the outside world to which all but a few must eventually return. It can also be used as a means of providing information and educational programmes.

Prison Population and Crime Projections

The Earl of Longford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the projected increases in (a) the prison population; and (b) recorded crime over the next five years.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Research Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office provided revised projections of the prison population in England and Wales in May, and a summary of the projection is included in the April 2000 Prison Population Brief, which is available on the Internet at http://www/homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm.
	Projections are provided according to various alternative scenarios. The middle variant projection assumes some growth in the use of custody in the courts, but no change in sentence lengths. The higher variant projection assumes that sentence lengths continue to increase. These scenarios both assume that the amount of courts' business remains constant over the period. A lower variant projection assumes sentence lengths and custody rates do not increase further and continue at the levels prevailing in March 2000, leading to a prison population of 66,700 in 2005. Projections take into account known legislative and policy changes. Table 1 gives the results for the middle and higher variants.
	The available projections on recorded crime cover property crime trends and were published in autumn 1999 as Home Office Research Study 198, Modelling and predicting property crime trends in England and Wales.
	Property crime (burglary and theft) comprises around 60 per cent of all recorded crime. The models provide projections of burglary and theft based on expected movements in the number of young males, the stock of goods and consumer spending. These are not forecasts, which would incorporate a range of other information and judgments about how other social, economic and policy changes might effect the level of crime. The projections are given in Table 2.
	
		Table 1: Long term projections of prisoners to 2005, England and Wales (May 2000).
		
			  Middle Variant Year-on year increases Higher variant Year-on year increase 
			 1998 64,800* -- 64,800* -- 
			 2000 65,200 +0.6% 65,400 +0.9% 
			 2001 66,700 +2.3% 68,000 +4.0% 
			 2002 68,300 +2.3% 70,300 +3.4% 
			 2003 69,400 +1.6% 71,500 +1.8% 
			 2004 70,500 +1.6% 73,300 +2.5% 
			 2005 71,600 +1.6% 75,200 +2.6% 
		
	
	*Actual
	
		Table 2: Projections of recorded burglary and theft.
		
			 Year Projected number of recorded burglaries (millions) Year-on-year increase in burglary Projected number of recorded thefts (millions) Year-on-year increase in theft 
			 1997 *1.02 -- *2.17 -- 
			 1998 *0.97 -5% *2.14 -1% 
			 1999 1.02 +6% 2.33 +9% 
			 2000 1.14 +11% 2.65 +14% 
			 2001 1.28 +12% 3.05 +15% 
		
	
	*Actual recorded crimes
	Our judgment is that the level of theft will not rise as far as the central projection (perhaps rising to 2.8 million by 2001). We expect burglary to remain close to the central projection in Table 2.
	Projections have not been made past 2001 because of the lack of reliable data on the variables in the models, and because uncertainty over the projections increases over projection periods.